Apparatus for closing a seed groove

Abstract

A furrow closing unit for a planting unit includes a frame adapted to be pivotally coupled with the planting unit, and a pair of coulter blades rotatably attached to the frame and adapted to move soil into a seed groove to facilitate a closing of the seed groove. The furrow closing unit further includes a basket assembly fixedly attached to the frame and having a basket adapted to roll over a soil surface behind the pair of coulter blades. The basket includes a pair of end caps and a plurality of spokes extending between the pair of end caps. The plurality of spokes is arrayed circularly around a central axis of the basket and is arranged spaced apart from each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A furrow closing unit for a planting unit, comprising:
 a frame adapted to be pivotally coupled with the planting unit;   a pair of coulter blades rotatably attached to the frame and adapted to move soil into a seed groove to facilitate a closing of the seed groove; and   a basket assembly fixedly attached to the frame and having a basket adapted to roll over a soil surface behind the pair of coulter blades, the basket includes a pair of end caps and a plurality of spokes extending between the pair of end caps, the plurality of spokes is arrayed circularly around a central axis of the basket and is arranged spaced apart from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a pair of arms arranged at a first longitudinal end of the frame and adapted to pivotally couple to the planting unit. 
     
     
         3 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the basket assembly includes a fork fixedly attached to a second longitudinal end of the frame and extending rearwardly of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 3 , wherein the fork includes a pair of fork arms coupled to the pair of the end caps of basket assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 4 , wherein the basket is rotatably coupled to the fork arms and is adapted to rotate about the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 1  further including a lever attached to the frame and a spring having one end adapted to be attached to the planting unit and other end attached to the lever, wherein the spring controls a compressive force applied by the basket on the soil. 
     
     
         7 . The furrow closing unit or  claim 6 , wherein the lever is adapted to be displaced between a plurality of positions to vary the compressive force. 
     
     
         8 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 7 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of detents to keep lever at the plurality of positions. 
     
     
         9 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spokes extends obliquely relative to the end caps. 
     
     
         10 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a pair of longitudinal sides and a pair of support bars extending downwardly from the pair of longitudinal sides, wherein the pair of coulter blades is rotatably attached to the pair of support bars. 
     
     
         11 . A furrow closing unit for a planting unit, comprising:
 a frame adapted to be pivotally coupled with the planting unit;   a pair of coulter blades rotatably attached to the frame and adapted to move soil into a seed groove to facilitate a closing of the seed groove; and   a basket assembly fixedly attached to the frame and having
 a fork fixedly attached to the frame and extending rearwardly of the frame, and 
 a basket rotatably coupled to the fork and adapted to roll over a soil surface behind the pair of coulter blades, the basket includes a pair of end caps and a plurality of spokes extending between the pair of end caps and obliquely to the end caps, the plurality of spokes is arrayed circularly around a central axis of the basket and is arranged spaced apart from each other. 
   
     
     
         12 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 11 , wherein the frame includes a pair of arms arranged at a first longitudinal ends of the frame and adapted to pivotally couple to the planting unit. 
     
     
         13 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 12 , wherein the fork includes a pair of fork arms coupled to the pair of the end caps of basket assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 12 , wherein the basket is rotatably coupled to the fork arms and is adapted to rotate about the central axis. 
     
     
         15 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 11  further including a lever attached to the frame and a spring having one end adapted to be attached to the planting unit and other end attached to the lever, wherein the spring controls a compressive force applied by the basket on the soil. 
     
     
         16 . The furrow closing unit or  claim 15 , wherein the lever is adapted to be displaced between a plurality of positions to vary the compressive force. 
     
     
         17 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 16 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of detents to keep lever at the plurality of positions. 
     
     
         18 . The furrow closing unit of  claim 11 , wherein the frame includes a pair of longitudinal sides and a pair of support bars extending downwardly from the pair of longitudinal sides, wherein the pair of coulter blades is rotatably attached to the pair of support bars.